More theme park on-property hotels could be coming to the region

Hotels within theme parks could be the next big thing for travellers in the Middle East looking for new experiences, according to industry experts at The Hotel Show, which kicked off in Dubai on Sunday.

Dubai: Hotels within theme parks could be the next big thing for travellers in the Middle East looking for new experiences, according to industry experts at The Hotel Show, which kicked off in Dubai on Sunday.

Theme parks’ on-property hotels normally target families and offer perks such as early access to the park’s rides and attractions. Travellers in the region could be spending more nights at theme parks, as more of them open, according to Milind Samant, research director of travel and tourism for the Middle East and Africa at research firm TNS.

“A lot of people [in the region] haven’t gotten exposed to theme parks, unlike the western part of the world. I think customers will prefer something like [a hotel within a theme park] because they are looking for new experiences,” he said.

The concept of a hotel in a theme park is still new in the region, he said, adding that travellers these days are looking for different types of rooms.

“If you look at the luxury travellers and the affordable luxury travellers, they are looking for interesting concepts like suites, private villas, boutique rooms, and theme-based rooms … Dubai Parks and Resorts will have a Lapita resort. All these theme-based rooms are gaining a lot of popularity.” More info